A Major Step Toward Garmin Integration! Runner’s Rings Gains Official API Access
On October 22, 2026, Runner’s Rings reached an important milestone in its Garmin integration project. Its application to the Garmin Connect Developer Program was approved, providing access to the official developer portal. The next goal is to implement automatic synchronization of running activities from Garmin Connect, including activity dates, distances, and GPS routes.
A major step forward for Garmin integration
October 22, 2026 marked an important milestone for Runner’s Rings.
Our application to the Garmin Connect Developer Program was approved, giving us access to Garmin’s official developer portal.
Runner’s Rings is a running application that preserves the roads you run and visualizes your running journey as growth rings.
We have already developed integrations involving Strava and Garmin Connect IQ.
Now we are taking another step toward direct Garmin Connect synchronization.
What will Garmin integration make possible?
Our goal is to make saving running activities simpler.
The intended experience is straightforward.
1. Record a run using a Garmin watch.
2. Synchronize the activity with Garmin Connect.
3. Allow Runner’s Rings to receive the new activity.
4. Save the date, distance, and GPS route.
5. Display the route on the Runner’s Rings map.
This would help runners preserve their activities with fewer manual steps.
However, automatic synchronization is not yet available through this new integration. Development and testing are still required.
What is the Garmin Activity API?
An API allows different software services to exchange information.
Garmin’s Activity API provides access to activity data recorded using compatible Garmin devices.
With the user’s authorization, applications can receive relevant exercise information.
For Runner’s Rings, the primary goal is to retrieve running activity dates, distances, and GPS routes.
Understanding Starter Access
Runner’s Rings is beginning with Business Starter access.
According to Garmin’s official documentation, Starter Access uses Push delivery and does not include historical activity retrieval.
This distinction is important.
Connecting a Garmin account will not automatically import years of previous activities under Starter Access.
The initial development goal is to receive and save new running activities after a user has connected their account.
Other applicable usage limits and technical conditions will be checked against Garmin’s official documentation and developer portal.
Why support Garmin directly when Strava is already available?
Runner’s Rings already provides Strava integration.
Garmin users can often synchronize their activities to Strava and then use those records in Runner’s Rings.
But not every Garmin runner uses Strava.
Direct integration would offer another way to preserve running activities.
For users who connect both services, avoiding duplicate activities will be an important part of the implementation.
How is this different from Garmin Connect IQ?
Garmin Connect IQ allows developers to create watch applications and data fields.
The Activity API serves a different purpose.
It enables cloud-to-cloud data integration after activities are synchronized with Garmin Connect.
The aim is to reduce the need for special watch-side actions when saving activities in Runner’s Rings.
What’s next?
As of October 22, 2026, access to Garmin’s official development environment has been established.
The remaining development work includes:
* Registering and configuring the Runner’s Rings application.
* Implementing secure Garmin account authorization.
* Receiving new activity data.
* Saving dates, distances, and GPS routes.
* Preventing duplicate records from Garmin and Strava.
* Handling errors and retries safely.
* Testing the integration with actual devices.
The public release schedule will depend on successful implementation and testing.
Chappy’s running fact: What is Push delivery?
Push delivery means new information is sent from the source system when it becomes available.
For example, when an activity is uploaded to Garmin Connect, Garmin can send a notification to the connected application’s server.
The application must then process and store that information correctly.
Push-based integration can reduce the need for repeated polling, but reliable data handling remains essential.
Preserving the roads we run
Runner’s Rings was created around one simple idea:
Map the life you run.
Runners should be able to focus on running, while their experiences become part of a lasting personal map.
Official Garmin integration brings us one step closer to that goal.
The feature is not complete yet.
But a new stage of development has begun.
We will continue sharing the journey through Rings Journal.
Runner’s Rings
https://runnersrings.com
References
Garmin Connect Developer Program
https://developer.garmin.com/gc-developer-program/overview/
Garmin Activity API
https://developer.garmin.com/gc-developer-program/activity-api/